Diatreme Resources has appointed mining engineer and major shareholder Brian Flannery as chairman as the silica sand developer moves towards the development phase of its Northern Silica Project in Far North Queensland.

Mr Flannery replaces former federal treasurer Wayne Swan, who had chaired the ASX-listed company since November 2021.

Diatreme chief executive officer Neil McIntyre said the change reflected a board renewal aimed at adding project delivery experience as the company moved closer to approvals and investment decisions.

“I think he’s extraordinarily well-known director and investor in Queensland and in Australia,” said Mr McIntyre.

“He’s a mining engineer and he has taken many resource projects in coal, base metals, gold, even now in oil and gas, both as an investor and developer, from greenfield all the way through to development and production.

“They (the Flannery family) are major shareholders as well, but also it’s a very clear, this is part of a board renewal focusing the company forward to where it needs to be in terms of developing real projects.”

Mr Flannery joined Diatreme as a non-executive director in October 2024. His previous executive roles include managing director of Felix Resources and Yancoal Australia.

Mr McIntyre said Mr Swan had guided Diatreme through an important phase, including the development of its partnership with global industrial minerals group Sibelco and progress on project approvals.

Related: Diatreme lifts estimate for key silica deposit

“He’s been a great chair. Has really stewarded us through that first part of project delivery,” he said.

“He developed really important partnerships with Sibelco during his term and we made progress on our approvals. It’s just appropriate now to have as our chair, someone specifically experienced in delivering resource projects.”

Mr Swan will remain on the board.

Diatreme is advancing the Northern Silica Project near Cape Flattery in the Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire.

In May, the company increased the mineral resource estimate for the project’s Si2 deposit by 10.6 per cent, from 272.5Mt to 301.5Mt.

The company expects to release its pre-feasibility study in coming weeks, which Mr McIntyre described as a major milestone.

He said the draft environmental impact statement was expected to be released for public consultation in the second half of the year.

Related: Sibelco in $24m vote of confidence for silica plans

Sibelco is Diatreme’s joint venture development partner on its Far North Queensland silica portfolio. It has contributed about $49 million at project and corporate level.